A Walk in the Garden

Pujya Guruji Shantaram Achut Bhandarkar

A sage living amongst us: -
By Radha & Sabapathy Iyer

Whose undertakings are devoid of self-centered objectives, whose works have been burnt up by the fire of knowledge – him the wise call a sage. (BG Ch 4 Shloka 19)

यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसंकल्पवर्जिताः ।
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥४-१९॥

A VISIT TO DR ARUNA’S GARDEN WITH OUR REVERED GURUJI (Visit combined with teachings)

Guruji is explaining the scientific techniques of the water heater to Sabhapathy, Radha, Aishwarya and Soundarya. This heater is designed to use the garden waste as fuel.

He showed us huge plantain trees that were planted and nurtured by his dear wife Dr Aruna. The abundance of fruits on all the trees demonstrates the outflow of infinite love showered on them by both Guruji and Gurumata. This is the hallmark of the Supreme as stated in BG Ch XI Shloka 43:

पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य:
त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् ।
न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो:
लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥११- ४३॥

Thou art the father of the world – of all that is moving and unmoving. Thou art the object of its worship, the most venerable of its TEACHERS. In all the worlds there is not another equal to THEE, much less one greater, O Thou of incomparable puissance!
On our way we saw a Neem tree and immediately Guruji plucked its leaves and ate all in few seconds and said, ‘wow very sweet’. Aishwarya and Soundarya also ate thinking it was really sweet; but they said, ‘oh it is too bitter!’ Guruji said “JEEVAN ME KADWA BHI KHANA SEEKHO!” (In life Learn to accept bitter also)

Whose mind is not agitated in adversity, who is free from desire, and who is devoid of attachments, fear and anger – such a person is called a sage of steady wisdom. (BG Ch. II Shloka 56)

दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः ।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ॥२- ५६॥

He asked us to look at the coconut tree. Each part it is fully used. Trunk, Leaves, fruits, bark etc. Similarly we should also be useful to others till we are alive. He said that it is rare to get a human birth and rarer is the one who achieves the ultimate goal of this birth.

At the end of many births (of striving), the knowing one makes me his refuge, realizing that Vasudeva is All. A great soul of that type is rare to find (BG Ch.VII Shloka 3)

मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिद्यतति सिद्धये ।
यततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ॥७- ३॥

FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE AND GRACE ALL THE TIME!

We reached near JACK FRUIT (Katahal) tree.!

He told us that in this tree a big jackfruit weighing 35 Kgs had grown. As it was ripe enough to be cut, he tied a rope at the root of the fruit and pulled it down. It was heavy and he could not control its fall. The jackfruit with its 35 Kg weight fell on his spectacles. To his utter surprise the spectacle remained intact in spite of massive impact and nothing happened to his eyes. He told us that he could realize the extent of God’s Grace only when after few days the spectacle fell down on the floor and the lenses broke down into countless pieces. He told us that it was only Divine Grace that saved his eyes when the Jackfruit fell on the spectacle and his eyes.

He told us that we need to have firm conviction that HIS Grace is there with all the creatures all the time.

Whoever, being devoted to me solely, engage themselves always in contemplation and worship of Me – to such ever-steadfast devotees I ensure the procurement of all their wants (salvation) and the preservation of their assets (worldly interests). (BG Ch. IX Shloka 22)

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥९- २२॥

LOTUS LEAF

(To illustrate the point about lotus leaf Guruji showed us the Arabi (Colocasia esculenta) leaf.
When we came to the front side of the garden he showed us an Arabi leaf (Colocasia esculenta). He pointed at the drop of water on that leaf and asked all of us to look! That drop was separate, shining brightly but not sticking to the leaf. He taught us to be detached from this world which means, be in the world but not of the world.

While explaining the point he referred to BG Ch. V Shloka 10:

ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः ।
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥५- १०॥

One who resigns all his actions to Brahman and works without any personal attachments, is not soiled by sin, as a lotus leaf is not wetted by water.

SEA AND ITS WAVES
In the evening we went to the Seashore. He made use of the occasion to explain the vastness of the sea and compared it with the Supreme (Brahman). The rising and falling waves, the bubbles and froth are nothing but transitory manifestation on the sea. The same is the relationship of the world to the Supreme Brahman.

One more point he made there was to teach the essence of Bhagavad Gita Shloka 70 Chapter II. One has to set that as the GOAL of life.

आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् ।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥२- ७०॥

He into whom all objects of desire enter (unsought and causing no perturbation), even like the ocean that is ever being filled by the rivers but still remains steady within its bounds – such a person attains to peace, not he who runs madly after objects of desire.

Three days spent with Guruji were full of learning from the way a Master is living his every moment of life.

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